COCHRANE— Bringing live music back to Cochrane, a series of local performers have been tapped to help ring in this year's Canada Day celebrations.
Cochrane and Area Events Society has organized live music at four separate locations around town for Canada Day on Thursday (July 1) from noon to 4 p.m. said event coordinator Kailey Mitchell.
“Live music is definitely something that everybody has come to love at the festival at Mitford. It’s fun to be able to add it back to an extent this year and use all local performers,” Mitchell said. “A lot of them [the performers] are really excited to get back to live performances.”
At the Historic Cochrane Ranche Stage Cochranites will be able to join in on a dance party with DJ Wild Bill.
At Centennial Plaza in the Historic Down Town local solo musician KT Calcutt will be playing songs spanning all genres of music followed by Cochrane country music legend JR Kaquitts.
Singer-songwriter Jason Cote will be lighting up the stage at Mitford Park, and classical guitarist Martin Russell will be at the Social Spot artisan market.
The Stoney Nakoda Mini Thni dancers will be making appearances at three of the stages starting at Centennial Plaza at 1 p.m., The Cochrane Ranche at 1:45 p.m. and Mitford Stage at 2:30 p.m.
“Our focus with be bringing the live music and spreading it out so people can actually get out and enjoy what they’re used to for Canada Day,” Mitchell said. "Spreading it out to different locations still gives that opportunity to create that physical distancing and not create a ton of crowding at all of the places.”
Mitchell added the locations were chosen in an effort to encourage Cochranites to get out and explore the town on foot.
Starting at 6 p.m. opening acts Cochranites Sydney Green & Devyn Byfield, Airdrie country/pop-rock recording artist Brandon Lorenzo and children’s performer Isabelle La Wonderful will host a pre-recorded concert with headliner George Canyon taking to the virtual stage live at 7 p.m. The virtual concert with Canyon is a one-time only broadcast ending at 8 p.m.
“If you don’t catch it, you miss it,” Mitchell said.
The online performance will kick off with a rendition of O Canada sung by Cochrane students in a video submitted by local schools.
Food trucks and activities will also be featured at the stages to help celebrate the nation’s birthday at Cochrane Ranche and Mitford Park.
The Food trucks will be available until 6 p.m.
“It’s easy family-friendly activities going on there. People can come get food, listen to some music and do a couple of the activities,” Mitchell said.
At Mitford Park, blow-up games and a nine-hole mini-putt will be available. A trivia walk and artisan market will be in the Historic Downtown.
A bike rally also takes place across town starting at the Cochrane Ranche and racing down to River Front Park.
A parade will be taking place and wind its way through the community with princesses, classic cars and the Cochrane Jeepers.
Volunteers will be hopping between the different locations throughout the day to help livestream parts of the performances, Mitchell said.
The day will end with a fireworks display in Mitford Park at 11 p.m. No parking will be available near the area.
“We are strongly encouraging for people to watch from their own communities, versus coming down from the park,” Mitchell said. “They are big and high. You are going to be able to see them from around town. We want people to be able to watch from home like they did last year.”
Schedule of Events
MITFORD PARK
12PM - 4PM • Jason Cote
Mitford Park Stage
12PM - 4PM • Family Activities
Mitfford Park
2:30 PM • Mini Thni Dancers
Mitford Park Stage
12PM - 6PM • The Mitt Mobile
Mitford Park Parking Lot
12PM - 6PM • Cracked YYC
Mitford Park Parking Lot
12PM - 6PM • El Creamino
Mitford Park Parking Lot
HISTORIC DOWNTOWN
12 PM - 2:15 PM • KT Calcutt
Centennial Plaza
1:00 PM • Mini Thni Dancers
Centennial Plaza
2:30 PM- 4:30 PM • JR Kaquitts
Centennial Plaza
12 PM - 4 PM • Martin Russell
The Social Spot (609 1st Street West)
12 PM - 4 PM • Artisan Market
The Social Spot (609 1st Street West)
12 PM - 4PM • Trivia Walk
Starts at The Social Spot
12PM - 6PM • Broken Smoke
The Social Spot (609 1st Street West)
12PM - 6PM • Miss Poutine
Centennial Plaza
12PM - 6PM • Wannawafle
Centennial Plaza
COCHRANE RANCHE
12 PM - 4 PM • DJ Wild Bill
Cochrane Ranche Stage
1:45 PM • Mini Thni Dancers
Cochrane Ranche Stage
12 PM - 4 PM • Family Activities
Cochrane Ranche
12PM - 6PM • Alec McQuarry - Fair Foods
Cochrane Ranche Parking Lot
12PM - 6PM • El Nopal Tacos
Cochrane Ranche Parking Lot
VARIOUS LOCATIONS AROUND TOWN
12PM - 4PM • Bike Rally
Starts at Cochrane Ranche
(times must be pre-booked)
12PM - 4PM • Community Parades
Maps available on Facebook
